Enchanted Rock, the leading provider of electrical resiliency microgrids, and U.S. Energy, a vertically integrated energy solutions provider proficient in refined products, alternative fuels and environmental credits, announced a partnership to procure renewable natural gas (RNG) for Microsoft’s new data center in San Jose during grid outages and when California’s Base Interruptible Power (BIP) is activated. The data center will use Enchanted Rock’s electrical resiliency-as-a-service and ultra-low-emission generators to avoid disruptions to their operations.
The resiliency microgrid, utilizing carbon-neutral RNG, will ensure maximum uptime for Microsoft’s San Jose data center by providing reliable backup power during grid outages. U.S. Energy will deliver RNG sourced from diverted food waste that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. The RNG will be injected upstream in the pipeline to match natural gas usage at the site and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, supporting Microsoft’s goal to become carbon negative by 2030.
The agreement also allows for flexibility in the amount of RNG supplied, ensuring the data center is always able to meet its high standards for emissions reduction. And the clean microgrid will also result in 80%-96% lower local emissions than even the strictest EPA diesel standards, which decreases health impacts on nearby communities.
“Enchanted Rock has always been committed to using the cleanest fuel available without compromising on reliability for our customers,” said Thomas McAndrew, founder and CEO of Enchanted Rock. “After announcing our renewable natural gas solution in 2021 and this particular Microsoft data center project in 2022, we’re proud to be taking this important next step toward seeing this key technology in operation. We’re pleased to be partnering with U.S. Energy and look forward to showcasing how RNG can be the new standard in providing carbon-neutral, dependable backup power.”
“Energy resilience is crucial with data centers like this one,” said president of U.S. Energy, Mike Koel. “Through our portfolio of 40 renewable natural gas projects, we’re able to ensure our customers have the supply needed to meet any additionality requirements. As we continue to grow our portfolio, our partnership with Enchanted Rock will help more organizations take that next step in their carbon reduction goals.”
Procurement of the RNG is scheduled to begin in early 2026. This project marks a major milestone in sustainability for data centers. Enchanted Rock’s microgrid is also California Air Resources Board (CARB) Distributed Generation (DG) compliant, meeting the nation’s strictest emission requirements for reciprocating engines.
SOURCE : PRNewswire